5 Rockford Themed Ideas for New Giant Stroll on State Parade Balloon

The Hard Rock Casino in Rockford, Illinois will again be sponsoring another giant balloon for the Stroll on State parade. This annual event is one of the state's most popular holiday events. Which of these design renderings do you think would best represent the 815?

Rockford's Stroll on State 2024 Details

Hundreds of thousands of people from all over Illinois and even Wisconsin, are thrilled to say they have never missed a Stroll on State.

The annual premier Illinois holiday event has always been the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. The same occurs in 2024.

Stroll on State 2024 is Saturday, November 30th

There is no shortage of opportunities to feel the spirit of the holidays in and around downtown Rockford during Stroll on State. Other than the downtown tree-lighting ceremony, no part of the event is as grand a spectacle as the parade.

Stroll on State Parade Balloons

Organizers of this year's event are looking for suggestions for a new big balloon for the parade. The parade arena features a Rockford Peach balloon, a Rick Nielsen guitar-themed balloon, and a Sock Monkey balloon.

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Hard Rock Casino Rockford will again be presenting a big balloon, what do you think would make a great theme?

I went through the comments and picked out a few favorites. Then I tried to create a simple rendering of the idea in photo form.

1. Deb B. suggested,

"The rock men balloon(s)!"

Here's what they look like.

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Here they are ready for the parade.

Let's try another one.

2. Amanda G sugested,

"Screw City"

Unless I didn't get the memo, Rockford is still the screw (and fastener) capital of the world, correct? I could see a giant screw balloon.

3. This next suggestion comes from Carla S.F.,

"Mrs. Fisher's Potato Chips"

I love potato chips so much that I put a likeness of myself in the Stroll on State parade balloon rendering below.

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4. This next balloon idea is an obvious choice, given the balloon's sponsor, Hard Rock Rockford.

Debbie K. suggested,

"Slot machine"

I kind of lost my way with this rendering. I told you that this isn't my day job. I thought that comparing the shape of the balloon in the top photo to part of a slot machine (bottom photo) would work. It didn't

I just want to cut that summer squash-looking balloon up and put it in a pan with some olive oil.

5. Let me try one last time. I think this one is my best work. Thank you to several, like Cat V., who suggested a balloon shaped like symbol.

This is the Symbol sculpture as it sits on the banks of the Rock River just off IL 251.

Here's a rendering of Symbol as a balloon.

Below is the original Stroll on State Facebook post I was inspired by. If you have a suggestion, organizers would like for you to share it in a comment on their post.

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